Summer Slumber: partie deux

Hey there little loves.

Now it's starting to get good. 

You've got your new duvet cover. You've got your fresh white sheets (Clean sheet day is fo sho one of the small things thats actually a big thing). You're ready to get sleepy with whatever or whoever you get snuggly with.

And here's what you're wearing to make you feel like a professional sleeper with the #nofilter.

1. This bright and sunny robe makes it easier to wake up, or at least get up to turn on the coffee. 2. The go-to. For when you're probably going to spill your Special K on it, but want to look super great doing it. 3. I have 3 pajama sets like this, and I'm a huge fan. Also comes in lobsters and tulips! 4. Duh. Look at those sleeves, and the length is nice and flirty.

5. This is the rainy day, eating popcorn and catching up on 3 seasons of Mad Men sleep shirt. A little sassy, but still grants some coverage in the rear. Rawr. 6. In the summer, there's not a whole lot thats better than a pair of sleep shorts that you're proud to walk the dog in at 6 am. 7. Cozy summer loungers for warming up in the cool evenings at the beach or just laying around on a rainy day and finishing some summer reading. 8. "Dream all day Sleep all night" Couldn't have said it better myself.

9. Comfort with just a wee bit more coverage. Also, coral looks good on everybody. 10. Easy, sweet and seductive. 11. All right, this is the piggy bank buster, but just look at it. I'm bananas for rompers for any occasion, and plus, its coral. Everyone looks good in coral.  12. This sweet little chemise is the perfect balance of comfort and coy.

There's part 2 of the summer slumber series! Get ready for tomorrow when I debut my picks for naughty summer knickers!

Summer Slumber: part 1

Good Morning lovers!

This is the first of a three-part post on (come on, lets face it) our favorite part of the day.

Bedtime.

Over the next few days I'll show you my picks for absolutely fabulous bedding, sleepwear, and naughty wear to get you through those suuuuhuuuuummmmmmmerr

naahhhhhights!!!

So good.

Now bring on the stunning summer cloud-like bedding!

1. This beautiful coverlet is adorned with little lovebirds to lull you to sleep. And by you, I mean only those with a queen bed- this is one size only! King bedders are crying around the world at this loss. 2. This fun fiesta of a duvet cover has the cloud feeling everyone wants for a summertime bed, but the tassels give the perfect touch of sass. 3. This is for my Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy lovers out there. This bed looks out of a romantic Bronte unicorn dreamworld. Darling. 4. Linen and summer are like peas & carrots, hot-dogs & mustard, and beer and baseball. Whats one without the other? Gotta admit- this is the direction I'm leaning this year. Clean, simple, confortable, timeless. 5. You might even be able to talk your man into this one. It's a beautiful sky blue that will make your bedroom feel not so girly, but still welcoming.

For those who still need some color...

6. Adorable, unpredictable, fun, but not juvenile. Brilliant! 7. These blankets from Target are an inexpensive way to change up your summer bedding scheme whether you want color or not. 8. I am and probably will always be (thanks, mom) bananas for botanicals. This duvet is whimsical and feels exotic, and HEY! King bedders! It's on sale! Woot.

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 of the summer small things bedthings extravaganza!

Colorful tunes and colorful hues

Believe it or not by the bareness of my poor little bloggy lately, but I have been very inspired lately. 

I've also been really stupid busy! Work, ish, etc. is in overdrive right meow.

One of the things that has been transporting me away from reality into a creative wonderworld lately is this album.

Good grief this is a fantastic album. I wont even dare to make comparisons of lump her into generic category nothingness. Every song is magic and electric. I can't stop listening. And that song you find when you first hear an album and you can't stop listening to is EVERY song. 

This is Morgan Fink. She is an artist local to the burg and I have loved her work since I first saw in in the Sawhill Gallery at JMU. I love how she embraces color and makes a saturated neon cow pasture look so natural. Prints of her work are currently being sold at Mint in downtown Harrisonburg. You can also visit her blog here.

These two ladies are rocking my world right now. What is inspiring you?

My whole life is in bloom

I am finally an auntie. 

This is miss new mommacita and baby nugget, Annabelle. Little nugget took her time and was born about a week and a half ago on her own time. I drove to the hospital early in the morning to see my little niece-let for the first time, and I could barely hold myself together to even hold her. 

She is just a miracle.

My main men with my number one girl.

I can't wait to spoil this thing rotten.

Sometimes in your life, you wake up and think, "Where on earth did all my dreams go, and why aren't I living them right this second? Everything is all wrong!" This moment is fleeting. There is much you can do, and much you can do that has nothing to do with whoever or whatever signs your paycheck. This life is so much more than 40 hours per week. 

No matter how inspiring you think someone is, they have bad days too.

We are all human.

Last week I forgot that the only one who can influence my life is me.

Go Bloom.

Go do; there is beauty all around you.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself, and that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams." -Paulo Coelho

Bananas for BaubleBar

Hi all!

Last weekend Mister and I went on a brief, but much needed vacay, and I can't wait to give a glowing review of the B&B we stayed at.

BUT a couple days ago I discovered BaubleBar and I am out of my gourd for their beautiful gems. I tend to dress in neutrals and play up my accessories, so finding BaubleBar and also finding that they're affordable is either the best day or the worst day (for my wallet).

Here are some of my favorites! You can find the sources below or on my Pinterest page.

one. two. three. four. five. six.

seven. eight. nine. ten. eleven.

Mistimorne Plants

In the past 2 weeks I've spent about 8 hours in my gardens. It is a place where I can decompress.

We live our own lives, but there is very little we do only for ourselves. We work for others, and even CEO's and the President work for their stakeholders. We go to school to gain a sense of knowledge that satisfies other's expectations. Even at home, we respect the preferences of roommates or family members, and the demands of kitty cats.

The garden is my place to do whatever the hell I want. For me. Just for the beauty of it. I serve me and what I want for that garden.

Anyway, I finally got the whole damn (front) garden weeded and pruned. Last year I grew some beans, but they were no good so I'm going all flowers in the front. I bought native wildflowers from the arboretum's native tree and plant sale, and the rest of my lovelies will be from Mistimorne Plants in Dayton.

Mistimorne was opened as Mary's Plants in the 1970's and the business was later taken on by Mary's brother Willard. Mistimorne stocks perennials, roses, shade lovers, vegetables, and giant hanging baskets that will blow your mind. They are proud to use only minimal growth regulators in their plants, and Willard and his staff are extremely knowledgeable about what to plant when, where, and with what.

This year I am really into the coleus. It is a low-maintenance plant that can do full-sun or mostly shade. The colors are so vibrant.

These elephant ears also caught my eye as a unique way to bring new color and texture into my backyard.

I am a domestic diva through and through and I can't wait to stare at some of these beauties during happy hour this summer with miss margarita. Viva la small things.

Wallpaper makes everything better

I've found myself retreating into my digital worlds more frequently than usual. I blame the news. Staying informed is a personal responsibility I take seriously, but I haven't exactly been looking forward to turning on my radio 

(We do not have TV, just netflix. Homegirl can't live without Rupaul and Elliot Stabler) 

and hearing about the gun debate, Boston, North Korea...

And one thing that's bound to transport me to my little heaven where everyone always says "thank you," and where men and women overdress just a little for every occaision is  great wallpaper. 

Especially used sparingly, on an accent wall or in a small space like a powder room, wallpaper can make a space just sing. Here are some of my favorites:

one. two. three. four. five.

one. two. three. four. five. six.

Applying wallpaper can also make a rich impact applied to the ceiling. If your budget is really tight, or if you're not committed to a loud print, buy just a little and frame it instead.